THE FOLLOWING DISCLOSURES ARE MADE TO ALL CLIENTS AND POTENTIAL CLIENTS

ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED BY CLIENT WITH A BANKRUPTCY PETITION MUST BE COMPLETE, ACCURATE, AND TRUTHFUL. ALL ASSETS AND ALL LIABILITIES ARE REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETELY AND ACCURATELY DISCLOSED IN THE DOCUMENTS FILED TO COMMENCE THE CASE. REPLACEMENT VALUE OF EACH ASSET DEFINED IN TITLE 11 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 506 MUST BE STATED IN THOSE DOCUMENTS WHERE REQUESTED AFTER REASONABLE INQUIRY TO ESTABLISH SUCH VALUE. INFORMATION PROVIDED DURING THE CASE MAY BE AUDITED AND THAT FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUCH INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN DISMISSAL OF THE CASE OR OTHER SANCTION, INCLUDING A CRIMINAL SANCTION.

A person may first choose to seek credit counseling before considering bankruptcy. Credit counseling is a service designed to assist a person with debts by budget counseling, negotiation with creditors and proposal of a debt management plan. In order to be successful with a debt management plan through a credit counselor, the person would need to make enough money to make regular and substantial payments on debts. With a debt management plan, debt payments may be reduced and interest may be reduced or waived, but bankruptcy relief is usually more dramatic and may be appropriate if a debt management plan with a credit counseling agency is not possible or will not benefit the client. A credit counseling briefing by an approved non-profit credit counseling agency is REQUIRED before a person may file a bankruptcy case.

Current monthly income, the amounts specified in section 707(b)(2), and, in a case under chapter 13 of this title, disposable income (determined in accordance with section 707(b)(2)), are required to be stated after reasonable inquiry.

A PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY OR FRAUDULENTLY CONCEALS ASSETS OR MAKES A FALSE OATH OR STATEMENT UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY IN CONNECTION WITH A CASE UNDER TITLE 11 (THE BANKRUPTCY CODE) SHALL BE SUBJECT TO A FINE, IMPRISONMENT, OR BOTH. ALL INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY A DEBTOR IN CONNECTION WITH A CASE UNDER TITLE 11 IS SUBJECT TO EXAMINATION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES REQUIRED BY TITLE 11, UNITED STATES CODE ARE CONTINUED BELOW.  PLEASE CONTINUE.
 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BANKRUPTCY ASSISTANCE SERVICES FROM AN ATTORNEY OR BANKRUPTCY PETITION PREPARER.

If you decide to seek bankruptcy relief, you can represent yourself, you can hire an attorney to represent you, or you can get help in some localities from a bankruptcy petition preparer who is not an attorney.

THE LAW REQUIRES AN ATTORNEY OR BANKRUPTCY PETITION PREPARER TO GIVE YOU A WRITTEN CONTRACT SPECIFYING WHAT THE ATTORNEY OR BANKRUPTCY PETITION PREPARER WILL DO FOR YOU AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST.

Ask to see the contract before you hire anyone. The following information helps you understand what must be done in a routine bankruptcy case to help you evaluate how much service you need. Although bankruptcy can be complex, many cases are routine. Before filing a bankruptcy case, either you or your attorney should analyze your eligibility for different forms of debt relief available under the Bankruptcy Code and which form of relief is most likely to be beneficial for you. Be sure you understand the relief you can obtain and its limitations.

To file a bankruptcy case, documents called a Petition, Schedules and Statement of Financial Affairs, as well as in some cases a Statement of Intention need to be prepared correctly and filed with the bankruptcy court. You will have to pay a filing fee to the bankruptcy court. Once your case starts, you will have to attend the required first meeting of creditors where you may be questioned by a court official called a `trustee' and by creditors.

If you choose to file a chapter 7 case, you may be asked by a creditor to reaffirm a debt. You may want help deciding whether to do so. A creditor is not permitted to coerce you into reaffirming your debts. If you choose to file a chapter 13 case in which you repay your creditors what you can afford over 3 to 5 years, you may also want help with preparing your chapter 13 plan and with the confirmation hearing on your plan which will be before a bankruptcy judge. If you select another type of relief under the Bankruptcy Code other than chapter 7 or chapter 13, you will want to find out what should be done from someone familiar with that type of relief.

Your bankruptcy case may also involve litigation. You are generally permitted to represent yourself in litigation in bankruptcy court, but only attorneys, not bankruptcy petition preparers, can give you legal advice.